Vacation is a term used in English-speaking North America
to describe a lengthy time away from work or school, a trip abroad, or simply a
pleasure trip away from home, such as a trip to the beach that lasts several
days or longer. In the rest of the English-speaking world the word "holiday" is
used, whereas in North America, "holiday" normally applies to a specific
national holiday or long weekend related to such a day. In some cases "vacation
holiday" is used in North America, which signifies that a vacation trip is taken
during a traditional national holiday period, extended on either end of the
period by taking additional time off from work—creating a longer time
unencumbered by work, an extended "long weekend", as it were. This practice is
common in the United States which has most national holidays legislated into the
nearest Monday and where employers give far fewer annual vacation days (see
below) than European employers—so stretching the related national holidays tends
to conserve one's accumulated total of eligible days available for longer
quality vacation excursions.
In England the word "vacation" referred specifically to the long summer break
taken by the law courts (and later universities)—a custom introduced by William
the Conqueror from Normandy where it was intended to facilitate the grape
harvest. The French term is similar to the American English: "Les Vacances." The
term derives from the fact that, in the past, upper-class families would
literally move to a summer home for part of the year, leaving their usual family
home vacant.
Most countries around the world have labor laws mandating a certain number of
days of time off per year to be given to a worker. In Canada the legal minimum
is two weeks, while in most of Europe the limit is significantly higher. Many
American companies give only one week, and then frequently only after completion
of a year of employment.
In modern employment practice, vacation days are usually coupled with Sick
leave, official holidays, and sometimes personal days.
Americans and Canadians, especially those of recent British or European descent,
may also use the word "holiday." "Annual Leave" is another expression used in
Commonwealth countries. Many Canadians use both "holiday" and "vacation";
"...I'm taking holidays..." is a common expression, something not often heard in
the United States.
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